Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-01

John L. West o Tfial In the Criminal
Court
HRs PAGES STORY OF rHE AnArIT-zxTxRs m
THE CASE

Court.
MA PAGES STORY OF ruE AnArlr-Lxzfxn m
THE CASE
This morning, I'm the Criminal Court, Judge MAO |
Arthur, the trial OF John l. West. colorod for
merry clerk In the general land once, indicted
for HOUSEKEEPING In the night and assault with
intent 70 commit a rape ON the person Of Ms
Mary l. Page. on the Goth Of November last, was
resumed and the selection of jury was proceeded
WITH OF the nifty talesmen drawn thirty-seven
answered when their names were called. So many
OF those who were called had formed opinions
rom reading the papers that IL WAS not until
III; 20 O'Clock that the jury box was full-eoth
sizes having exhausted their challenges. The Jury
as empanneiled is composed OF J. G. Newton, n. C.
hoOey, David N. Felt w. Il skelley, Thomas T.
Jacobs. VIM. Nietzy. Chas. C. Clokey, John l. Web
ster, James Raglan, Arthur 7. Brown. X I. Dent
and Henry II. Woodward
AeSSrs. Cook and Cahill. for the defendant, re.
neWeu the motion for the production of letters
wnien PASSED between the parties from October,
West that the production Of such letters Is neces-
say 10 MN for his proper defense.
on Inc District Attorney opposed this motion and
, The Court asked the District Attorney why not
Inc District Attorney replied that now the COM
ed for @-'' 10 0o"'A ~
The Court said that as soon as the witness was
OPENING STATEMENT or THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
The witnesses were excluded from the court
room. and Mr.. WOrthington opened the case,
stating that they expected TO show that the house
OF Mrs. Page, No 1888 L street, occupied by her,
her mother and three children. was entered by the
asleep and she was aroused by the smell OF choro-
lorm, ana, getting up TO light the gas. she saw a
and he sanT Sr ssa 81 th Sr ro
behind and apparently attempted TO force the
chloroiorm down her throat; that her mother was
aroused by her screams, and an alarm was raised,
when the man ran down stairs. The defendant
lived at 1lA Connecticut avenue, and he was seen
gong towards his house. An examination showed
tlat the house had been forced. Mrs. Page did not
recognize her assailant al the time but about or
64 O'Clock Il m. West came TO the house and sought
entrance, saying that he wanted TO see Mrs. Page.
Mrs. Page, who was confined TO her room, came
down the steps and he (Wesp said he had fallen
down In the street and was aroused by the screams
OF woman; that he had lost his eyeglasses and
bottle or chloroforn. Mrs. Page said he ought 10
be hung, and asked him Tor some letters, when he
went on ana Game back With them, and again
was not seen until he walked into the police
station a week afterwards. The most OF the
That whatever may have been their character
they could not justify the assault
TESTIMONY OF MRS. PAGE.
Mrs. Page was then called and took her place ON
the witness stand. She was attired in deep
mourning
summoned 10 produce, and several were passed by
her TO Mr.. Cahill,
The district attorney said that among the
papers was letter OF defendant, written from
New York week after the occurrence and he
submitted that that letter should be included
Win the Others. He asked that the defendant
produce any letters he might have.
Mr.. Cook said that they had nothing In court but
The court directed the examination to proceed.
Mrs. Page testified that she resided at 1888 L
street from November 9Th till the occurrence with
her mother and three children; that tine night
OF November 10th she retired about 10 30 O'clock,
the children having gone 10 bed previously and her
mother being still up. She was awakened but did
hoi Know by what; perceived the intense odor OF
chlorOfOrm; sprung out OF bed and rushed TO the
gas hght, and man was standing just outside the
door Of her bedroom "WhO is that?" she asked,
and before she could speak another word the llan
rushed in and seized her and struck her violently
ses times In the face with some
the mouth of the battle for her face and head
deluged with chloroiorm She turned her head to-
wards the bureau, when she was knocked against
the bureau ana the mantle piece She Was
knocked speeches., and almost senseleSs and
soon as she had the power OF speech sine called
smother, open the window" Just before that lac
had diSarranged her night clothes and put his hand
upon her person. Her mother then opened the
window and screamed, and the man then tried 10
get away. Witness held on TO him in the hopes
that the crowd around the door would get In and
catch him and to prevent him from reaching down
stairs Then she heard her little daughter Matte
screaming. The man shook witness off and ran
down stairs. Witness then lighted the gas went
down stairs and let the crowd in among whom
were Mr. Downey and his nephew, a policeman.
Witnesses face was covered with blood and the
front OF her gown also stained with blood. Wit
ness sent for DR.. Brownweil but being sick he did
After recess Mrs Page resumed the stand. She
said her aSSailant did not speak. When she lit
the gas bottle OF chloroiorm and white linen
spots were fOund-the chlOrOfOrm On the bureau
aid the handkerchief on the bed. The corner OF
the latter was cut of. In the morning about
dren looked out OF the window and said
There's Mr.. West, and he asked 70 see her. Sac
sent word that she was unable 10 see MIN. Then
ness, and she slipped on her dress and told the
children to tell him TO come in the ha.l. She "ent
at her room door. West said he wished to see her
alone or privately, and he could not tell her any
other way She told him 70 say what he had TO say.
and he heSitated and asked III she was afraid.
She asked, "Mhy should be afraid?" Then, after
some hesitation, he said: 81 fell In the street last
night and found myself In a state OF unconscious
ness in your house, and / know that something
terrible happened" He then said that he had
been to a drug store and bought bottle OF chloro-
bottle and his glasses. Witness said, "You ought
to be In the penitentiary," and he replied:
'.Do with me as you please; God knows have
then hesitated and was about leaving. Witness
insisted that he should not leave the house, and
oSo b n 10 lie sad where Shall ne srn na
them?" Witness said: 'sTo my 'front.' door"
He then left. In about flfteen minutes
her daughter Mary, brought her q package
The next day witness looned over the papers
and tore them up, telling her daughter TO burn
them. Witness Identified the letter dated New
York, November 27th, received after the occur
renee. She had not yet entirely recovered from
the shock, and her mouth was stil sore.
THE DESTROYED LETTERS
On crOSs-eXalnination, witness said she came
here In December, 1879; obtained employment In
the general land Office In January, 1881; was first
In Mr.. Howells division; In october, 1872, CON-
menced work in the room in which West was EN-
pOyed. Witness was shown two letters which de-
PENDANT produced, and witness said that they
were written by her TO WeSt-one being sent by
mall but She could not tell how she sent The Other.
Thinks that with the letters destroyed there were
a dozen and half letters written by her In four
years. West very kindly Interested himself In
her behalf, she having been promoted twice.
She destroyed the letters because she did not
want any one 10 know that she had been In cor
respOndence With such man. Some or the letters
she wrote him more TO thank him for acts of kind
ness and some declining kindnesses West some
times brought in a lunch. She had gave him a book
and medal, and on his birthday some Wild flowers
Witness Identified the wild flowers pressed into
the words g Many happy returns OF the day." She
may have taken some strands OF hair from her
dress, and handed him two or three.
Witness gave West a tube-rose which he put IN u
bottle. Witness was not familiar with the lam
guage OF flowers and did not know what q tube
rose meant hur if meant moi hing by her Wesf